No Way In
Amazon has just listed my novel, No Way In, on its online store. Since it is in the action/adventure genre, the main goal of the book is to entertain. At the most basic level it should just be fun to read. There ought to be enough action, chases and mystery to keep things moving right along.
At another level it is historical and political fiction, unavoidable because like any other narrative, No Way In had to create a universe for its characters to live in. People live in a time and inhabit a place, in this case one as realistic as possible and yet by nature, exotic. Scenery and period can be a two-edged sword; the trick is to make it work for the characters rather than competing with them. Ultimately the success of any tale depends on creating characters any reader can imagine as himself. The blurb at the back of the book introduces the story of an ordinary person, who like most of us, is not quite as commonplace as he seems. He is thrust into an extraordinary predicament.
An obscure academic becomes the last person to talk to a politician who’s stolen an election for a corrupt president. When the politician is killed on an airliner before he can double cross his boss, a team of professional killers is told to clean up the last possible loose end. But Alex Francisco proves unexpectedly hard to tie off as he draws on survival skills acquired from years in the anti-Marcos underground. With the help of another underground veteran Alex Francisco evades his pursuers through the Australian Alps in a desperate race to decipher the dead man’s secrets and to see if he can give his faded life one last purpose.
And the character faces the challenge in ways that most of us might have or would have wanted to. As the Afterword puts it, “all that is possible is to spin a tale as it should have happened, to people who should have lived.” Hope you enjoy the book.
I’d like to ask that you submit any reviews on the book to the Amazon site itself. That is the customary method and it also helps float the book up to the top of the Amazon offerings list.
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Congratulations!
Now where can we get autographed copies?
When will you do the book tour?
Maybe I can help, I worked in a bookstore once (it was about 45 years ago, but still…).
Wretchard
Congratulations! Just ordered it from Amazon. Look forward to reading it.
Walt
walt, can i borrow yours when you’re finished?
Thanks Walt. I don’t know how I can send autographed copies. I’ll check to see what kinds of options are open.
Now to try to order it here in Hungary. I can’t order it directly from Amazon as such orders tend to not make it through the Magyar post. But it will be worth waiting for.
This is such good news. Congratulations, Richard. How exciting for you. And me. I’ve been keeping a folder of memorable quotes from you for years. (Would you repeat the one about the whispers in night? I mistakenly ditched it.)
If it were me, I would create a signed bookplate and make it available for download. It’s almost as good as you doing it IRL.
I just emailed the kiddos, for Christmas the Fernandez and the two Ericksons. Nice timing, need no more copies of “How to Age Gracefully”, or “Preserving Your Estate” or “I, Prostate”.
W: congratulations! I am ordering my copy now. Would love to get it autographed some way some day. Cheers, O.
Bought one for me, one to give at Christmas…
Oh PLEASE make it available on Kindle.
Congratulations Richard. Purchased one and requested a Kindle copy – Amazon will notify the publisher.
Congrats! … but they don’t even let you include a bookjacket blurb?
Ditto: Kindle, Kindle!
Same as Antonio here, Richard. Congratulations. I look forward to reading your book.
Congratulations! There is no thrill quite like opening a carton of your own books, and thinking ‘OMG – I wrote all that!’ Seriously, as rich pleads, do make it available on kindle (and on the nook, too, may as well hit all the formats.)
Also, have you gotten contacted any other sites about getting reviews? PM me, if you would like some suggestions for good review sites who welcome POD books. And did you consider the “look inside” feature? Honestly, although it might seem as though you are giving too much away, it’s a good way to snag reader interest with a taste. Especially with readers who don’t know about Belmont Club.
Finally, can you beg Instapundit for a link? I’m in two minds about asking him for a link to my own next book (which comes out in April 2011, since he doesn’t really do HF) but he ought to be able to come out for another PJ Media opus.
Writing it all was just half the job, Wretchard – putting it in front of interested readers is the other half!
The Australian Alps?
Congratulations Richard-
I posted a year ago I would purchase 25 autographed copies. Please send me an invoice.
Before Christmas would be great!
Best Wishes
Richard
16. IC
Yep. I’ve heard they are about as high as the Coast Range in California but cover more ground than the Sierra Nevada Range.
PS: My copy is also enroute.
Are there helicopters in it?
W,
Awesome news. Just ordered mine.
I think the best way to do autographed copies is a signed bookplate. When Army of Davids came out, Glenn offered signed bookplates if you sent him a stamped self-addressed envelope.
I hope it sells millions of copies.
Outstanding. I just ordered your book and Walt’s books as well. I will post reviews as soon as I read the books.
Bought one and requested a Kindle Edition.
Wretchard the Cat can write? Who knew?
Congratulations, Mr. Fernandez. I hope it does very well. Any iconoclastic
hangouts in the novel, like The Belmont Club?
Ditto to all the requests for an autographed copy. I would love to be able to give one to a certain 15-year-old gentleman of my acquaintance.
Terrific news!
You know, we really are going to have a “Literary Night” on the Belmont Club, where we can ask Wretchard and Walt questions about their works. Like on C-Span, but without the TV.
And I still think we need a Poetry Night, too. Lord! I never thought I would ever say that!
I’ll even put on some pants for these events. And tie, too, if the dress code demands it.
15/Sgt Mom
Last I checked Amazon CreateSpace does not support Kindle, though I believe they are working on it. I emailed Glenn Reynolds asking if he would accept a copy of my SF novel and he said sure and gave an address. Very accommodating man. He seems to be mostly into SF which is why I emailed. Tell him what your book is about and ask if he would like to see a copy. You have nothing to lose. If you like you may contact me and I will give you his email (not the Instapundit contact). And if you do contact me, maybe you could fill me in on sites that do reviews on POD books, or if not post them on BC where Wretchard will no doubt be interested as well.
My thanks to all who have read my stuff on BC and who have checked out my novels on Amazon. Many thanks.
And finally, as long as we’re talking books and authors, all you Texans out there check out Celia Hayes Adelsverein, now on Amazon.
Walt
“Thanks Walt. I don’t know how I can send autographed copies. I’ll check to see what kinds of options are open.”
Count me in.It is of both historical and personal value that we preserve the treasures of our generation.
Perhaps our descendants will be showing off a signed copy in years to come on an episode of antiques road show.
W.
Excellent news! I am going to special order it through my local bookstore, the old fashioned way. It will give me a chance to tell a few people face to face about you and your writing.
Ordered mine on Amazon. Still want a signed copy.
Congratulations on the publishment! Thanks for the news. Off to Amazon…
did you take some inspiration from erap and gloria arroyo’s situation?
Congratulations! And thanks for solving my Christmas giving dilemna!
Dear Wretchard,
Congratulations! I look forward to reading it. Let us know when your autographing tour reaches the DC area….
There is one scene in which helicopters don’t appear. I am still working on the Kindle edition, but it will probably take some months to work out. Looking into the signed bookplate idea.
Congrats Wretchard!! I’m off to the Amazon.
If you do a book tour in the US, let us know – we may be able to help…
And there is quite a cast of “characters” here available for the movie…
One scene without helicopters?
I’m not a huge book person, may wait for paperback.
Or not. My avatar for almost three months at Grouchy Conservative Pundits was inspired by the article about violence and karoake, the image of St Michael off a gin bottle. Just had to Google that.
I attended a wedding Mass in Tamilipaus, back when it was safe to visit Tamilipaus, at the same church my wife was baptized in, San Miguel Arcangel. Statue of Saint Michael defeating Satan, one of Satan’s wings snapped off the statue, I suspect accidentally, but who knows.
Now on the interwebs… http://www.diocesisdematamoros.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=43
Mr. Fernandez,
Thank you,
I am thankful for you, your life, and your writings. I have ordered No Way In, from Amazon (I also ordered Decision Points to get free shipping
Best always,
onesimus
#26 Walt – I did send a copy to Insty, of my first HF novel, after he linked to a review and mention on Chicagoboyz, all these years ago – no joy or linky love since then. He’s an SF fan, so eh – why beat on a locked door?
It is fairly easy to upload to the Kindle format, so I don’t see why that would take a month or so. And to set up an ‘author page’ with them – not all that hard, either.
But thanks for the shout-out, Walt! The next book is kind of a prelude to the Adelsverein Trilogy — all about the things you might not have known about the Texas war for independence!
Great news! Now off to amazon. . . .
Got it. This is the only site where I read both the main post and the comments twiceover. I am in awe of all the talent here.
We buy the book each in our respective countries, send proof of purchase to Wretchard; if he isn’t damn tired of hearing our opinions and rants, he can send maybe an autograph.
Maybe he ought to send the autograph winging on its way only when we add to the tip jar. That might strike some folks as crass and craven, but a guy’s gotta eat!
(I just ordered a copy for me and my brother. I’m going to hang onto it for a while. Yeah, I’m a cheap rascal.)
(but not too cheap to rush back and get Walt’s SF tome… ;-D )
Looking forward to hearing about the movie deal. Who plays which character? Any suggestions? Stipulate living actors for this exercize.
The Australian Alps? Kind of like the city of Hacienda Heights in the Los Angeles area being called the Mexican Alps, which it is amongst the LAPD. Keith
Congratulations Wretchard! If this were available on Kindle I’d buy a copy and already be half-done reading it
However, living in Scandinavia, working in the Middle East and traveling in between means it’ll be a while before I and a hard copy of your book can be in the same place. Still I’ll order it now and hope to get a hold of it by January 2011. In the meantime I’ll just re-read my Jack Reacher and Andrew Klavan novels.
“10. rich ruscio
Oh PLEASE make it available on Kindle.”
Yep- that’s the only way I buy books nowadays.
Ordered mine.
Intriguing.
Where do you get the time?
ADE
Thanks for the tip on what I expect will be very good reading.
I counterinvite you to read my novel, Jade Rooster, set in 1913 Japan, China, Korea, and…the Philippines. It won the Admiral David Glasgow Farragut Award a year or two back.
I expect if either novel carries a political message or two, the messages slip through in is an entertaining and subtle way.
Wretchard, Congratulations! Just ordered my copy (along with a copy of one of Walt’s).
Congrats! You need to get them to get it out in a Kindle edition.
W-
Ordered the book for myself, and will be sending copies to friends and family for Christmas and Hanukkah.
Jamie Irons
Whoo-hoo! Love the blurb, reminds me a little of an imaginary cat named Wretchard.
I’ll buy it today, and read it as my airplane book. I’ve always admired your writing, I’m sure this is going to to be fun.
Hope it has legs for you Wretchard!
I would be surprised if not having a Kindle version (yet) was just an oversight by you–are their significant barriers to getting Amazon to offer a Kindle version? Or maybe just time constraints?
I think it would be best to e-mail personalized autographs that can be pasted inside.
Congratulations, Wretchard! I also have requested from the publisher that it be made available in the Kindle edition. Once it’s available, please give us a heads up here, and I’ll be buying it immediately.
1.) Re: a Kindle edition. There is a link on the book’s Amazon page to request a Kindle edition. Click on it to send the request.
2.) To actually find the book on Amazon, I had to use the link in the article above. A simple search for it on Amazon turned up a whole lot of stuff that was not the book.
Congratulations Wretchard!
Ditto on the Kindle request sent. When I remodeled my home last year I gave about 350 hard copy books to the local library. I’m trying to buy everything on Kindle now so that my grandson and I can both enjoy them.
My congratulations and best wishes for success as well! I look forward to reading it.
At last, it’s here. It was only a week or so ago that I was thinking how we hadn’t heard anything about it in a long while.
Congratulations.
Knowing something about the author’s point of view, I can’t imagine not liking this novel.
I would be satisfied with a downloadable PDF of an autographed photo of Mr. W, (who is that Fernandez guy, anyhow?)
>;-D
heh –a Harvard anti-communist brings to mind that song The Pilgrim (“…he’s a walkin’ contradiction”) by the great singer/composer/actor/scholar Kris Pissedoffperson
Congrats W. I have ordered my copy from Amazon.
Also, as a regular reader, thank you for all you do.
Richard, I started reading your work back when you were presented to us as a satisfied-looking cat. Your command of the English language and insight have been humbling and elevating at the same time. I do look foward to a weighty tome full of your rich word-smithing. I will request a Kindle copy from Amazon, but nothing matches the feel of a book while curling up next to the fireplace with a glass of port. Well done, I am afraid that I will spend the next few days like a child waiting for Santa to arive.
The signed bookplates do seem an excellent idea.
I trust you have started an autobiography, I feel that it would be every bit as riveting as any fiction.
wonder how many paper pages the belmont archive would be? Editing would be a nightmare –many threads are brobdingnagian –but a fine book of essays it would be. Lots of great stand-alone reading –The Lost Squadron comes to mind. but, nah, no way to do dead tree hyperlinks –oh well –
38. Sgt. Mom
It is fairly easy to upload to the Kindle format, so I don’t see why that would take a month or so. And to set up an ‘author page’ with them – not all that hard, either.
—
Sgt. Mom cannot tell a lie.
As far as I know, the author is computer literate.
…as well as otherwise.
Doug – it’s not that hard now to upload a book to the Kindle format as the author or publisher; it’s a lot of little, finicky steps, which have to be done in precise order and done perfectly. When they first unveiled the Kindle and asked authors to make their books available, it was a major pain to upload my first book and I swore I wouldn’t waste my time doing it ever again … but they’ve worked out the kinks. Uploading the Adelsverein Trilogy was a breeze.
The most difficult part of working with Amazon is actually finding a real human being there. I don’t think there are, actually. I think Amazon is entirely run by sub-routines.
“I think Amazon is entirely run by sub-routines.”
—
If only Wikileaks could be so powered, leaving Julian Assange unlimited time to devote to his upcoming book tour.
Can’t wait until Wretchard’s tour schedule is published.
Not to mention interviews by Hugh Hewitt and the rest of InternetsWorld.
Doug, Glenn Beck is onto the wikileaks as we speak –you NEED to be watching this –go to your neighbors if you still don’t gots a tv –
Oh great. Just great. I’m already out of space in my bookshelf as it is and five books behind on my reading list. But this one just jumped the queue to the head of the list when it gets here.
Congrats, Wretchard. Can’t wait to read it.
http://www.infowars.com/senate-bill-s510-makes-it-illegal-to-grow-share-trade-or-sell-homegrown-food/
http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=s-510
senate switchboard: 202 224 3121 (Cloture passed, the vote is scheduled Tuesday, Nov 30)
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sorry for the clanging off thread –rude of me –i got to quit doing that –this –